Dolphins, Uni-bikers clash for lead

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu and Dumaguete face off today with no less than the top spot at stake even as Alabang tries to zero in on the last semifinal berth against Batangas in the penultimate elims week of Baseball Philippines Series 9 at the Parade Grounds in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

The Dolphins and the Uni-bikers, assured of spots in the semis with frontrunning 9-3 cards, clash in the first game of another doubleheader at 9 a.m. in what could be a preview of the championship.

Also seeing action in the first game are third semifinalist Manila (7-5) and fourth running Alabang (5-7), which will take on struggling Taguig and Batangas, both toting 3-9 slates, respectively, in the league organized by Community Sports Inc.

Dumaguete and Cebu, meanwhile, resume their campaign against Batangas and Taguig, respectively, in the afternoon match starting at 1 p.m. with Manila and Alabang squaring off in the other match.

The Uni-bikers and the Dolphins are out to improve their slates for twice-to-beat incentive in the semis.

They split their season series with Dumaguete winning their initial faceoff, 10-3, last March 31 and Cebu getting even with an 8-3 decision last May 6.

The league is sponsored by Gatorade, Emperador Light, Clark Development Corp., Harbour Centre, Philippine Transmarine Corp., Summit Water and Eagle Sky Inc. with the backing of Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the Philippine Umpires Association.

For details, log on to www.baseballphilippines.com andwww.facebook.com/baseballphilippines.